Liverpool rediscover flair after Adam Lallana’s double sinks Swansea
Liverpool ended 2014 as they opened it. Their defence can still cause palpitations from the most harmless of situations but, more importantly as far as Brendan Rodgers’ ideal is concerned, the relentless attacking threat that many thought had vanished forever made its return against Swansea City.
Garry Monk’s side contributed to their own demise at Anfield but struggled to cope with the movement and imagination of Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho, the trio afforded deserved standing ovations after impressive displays. Sterling and Jonjo Shelvey could both face retrospective action from the Football Association for raising their hands – against Federico Fernandez and Emre Can respectively – but there was no disputing the merit of Liverpool’s biggest victory of a trying season.
Rodgers stressed in his programme notes that: “There is a danger, when thinking back to those months between January and May, of focusing too much upon an opportunity missed and not enough of the potential we have for the future.” Results have not encouraged much forward-thinking at Anfield this term but recent performances have lifted the air of despondency. Swansea’s inability to break out of their own half until falling behind to Moreno’s 33rd minute opener reflected Liverpool’s control here.Rodgers responded to the festive demands by changing personnel but not the formation that had brought improvement, the poor first-half performance against Burnley on Boxing Day notwithstanding. Steven Gerrard, Lazar Markovic and Kolo Touré were all rested on the bench with the Ivorian’s place in central defence taken by Emre Can. The Germany Under-21 midfielder enjoyed a comfortable opening in his irregular role until being smacked in the face by Jonjo Shelvey’s flailing arm shortly before the interval.
The referee, Andre Marriner, was perfectly-placed to spot the incident, which followed a marauding run into the area by the former Liverpool midfielder, yet Shelvey escaped unpunished. A player who had been warned to “wise up” against needless bookings by the Swansea manager, Garry Monk, before kick-off may not be so fortunate when the Football Association review the incident.
Liverpool were ahead and Swansea finally displaying intent by the time of Shelvey’s latest indiscretion, the home side’s advantage deserved despite a lack of clear-cut opportunities. Two full-backs, Javier Manquillo and Moreno, were deployed in midfield by Rodgers and helped stifle support for Wilfried Bony from Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge. With Raheem Sterling, Coutinho and Lallana again prospering from the 3-4-2-1 system, the attacking threat came solely from Liverpool prior to Swansea’s belated response once behind. Rodgers had his arm up in celebration at Liverpool’s first opening, a powerful header by Martin Skrtel from a Jordan Henderson corner, only for Lukasz Fabianski’s smart-handling to intervene. Sterling instigated a flowing move with a fine crossfield ball out to Moreno then arrived in the box to volley the left-back’s delivery against the Swansea keeper. Lallana sliced a glorious chance over from the rebound.
The visitors were too deep, despite Monk’s encouragement to step out, and punished by another incisive Liverpool move that commenced with Mamadou Sakho’s pass out of defence to Moreno. The Spanish defender raced forward and picked out Lallana, who in turn released Henderson to the by-line. Moreno continued his run into the penalty area and converted at close range when the cross arrived, despite Fabianski’s best efforts on the line.
Swansea made a determined start to the second half, pressing Liverpool’s defenders and refusing to allow their opponents to dictate the play, but undermined their chances of recovery with a comical error. Not that anyone connected with the visitors, and Fabianski in particular, was laughing.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper was presented with what should have been a routine clearance by Ashley Williams’ back-pass. Instead, and seemingly oblivious to the in-rushing Lallana, he attempted to sweep the ball out wide and succeeded only in hitting the Liverpool player who reeled away in delight as the ball dropped into the unguarded net.
Liverpool’s hopes of a second successive clean sheet were extinguished less than a minute later when Can and Sakho failed to clear crosses into the area and Gylfi Sigurdsson buried a simple finish from the French defender’s poor header. Bony was denied an equaliser by Simon Mignolet as Rodgers’ side wobbled but, with Lallana and Coutinho in confident form, Liverpool soon regained absolute control.
Lallana’s second goal of the night, Liverpool’s third, was an outstanding reminder of what last season’s title challene was based upon. Henderson played a simple pass to Coutinho who sent the £25m summer signing sprinting through the centre with an exquisite flick. The former Southampton captain drifted away from Fernandez and Angel Rangel to the left before burying a fine finish into the far corner.
Liverpool’s fourth completed a miserable return to Merseyside for Shelvey, who somehow glanced Henderson’s corner to the near post beyond his own goalkeeper and into the far side of the Swansea net. Monk looked on aghast at Swansea’s latest act of self-destruction but this was a night when Liverpool recaptured their flair.
Match stats
Possession
Goal attempts
4
- Alberto Moreno 33
- Adam Lallana 51
- Adam Lallana 61
- Jonjo Shelvey 69 o.g.
1
- Gylfi Sigurdsson 52
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